Educational playhouse



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EDUCATIONAL PLAYHOUSE T. W. JOHNSON ET AL FIG.I

Nov. 11, 1969 Filed May 8, 1967 Nov. 11, 1969 T. W. JOHNSON ET AL EDUCATIONAL PLAYHOUSE Filed ma a, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- i? W W m m u n u 5. 7. 4, Wm. m u n .a B 6 k if k wwx /kx w %M%WM M HEB INVENTORS THEODORE w. JOHNSON Y RALPH SIIVOLA BY wwm w ATTORNEYS United States Patent Mich.

Filed May 8, 1967, Ser. No. 636,909 Int. Cl. E04b 1/10, 2/08; E04c 1/10 US. Cl. 52-105 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Building structure capable of being assembled and disassembled without the use of tools to provide an educational playhouse for children including vertical corner posts and coded horizontal frame members, both of which have grooves therein, and coded panels adapted to be secured between the corner posts and horizontal frame members in the grooves and structure for assembling the panels including a recess in a groove in one of each two vertically adjacent frame members for receiving one end of a panel to permit alignment of the panelwith a groove in the other of the adjacent frame members.

Alternatively the corner posts may be slottedvertically to permit sliding of the coded panels into the grooves in the two vertically adjacent frame members.

BACKGROUND? OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention 1 The invention relates to building structures and refers more specifically to a playhouse for children which is designed to be easily put together and taken apart by children without tools. The playhouse thus has educational benefits as well as being a toy which is readily stored in its disassembled condition.

Description of the prior art Prior childrens playhouses have usually been sold permanently assembled. Thus manufacture, storage and shipping of the playhouses has required a great amount of space so that the playhouses have been fairly expensive. In addition the children are deprived of the enjoyment and educational benefits derived from constructing their own playhouse. Also, storage of the playhouse when not in use by the purchaser has been a distinct problem with permanently assembled playhouses of the past.

Even where disassembled playhouses have been sold as kits in the past they have been sold with the idea that the purchaser would permanently assemble them whereby storage of the playhouse after the initial assembly thereof has been a particular problem. Where building structures in the past have been designed for assembly and disassembly for storage, shipment or movement they have not been suitable for assembly and disassembly by children due to the complicated structure thereof and the requirement for the'use of tools for the assembly and disassembly thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The educational playhouse of the invention includes four vertically extending corner posts horizontally extending coded frame members between the corner posts at the top and bottom thereof and intermediate of the top and bottom thereof together with coded panel members and unique means for fitting the panel members in grooves provided in vertically adjacent frame members.

In accordance with the invention alternate structures for placing the panels in the grooves in the vertically adjacent frame members are provided including longitudinally extending vertical slots through the corner posts, and recesses in the grooves in the upper and intermediate 3 ,477,184 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an educational playhouse constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged interior perspective view of the rear half of the playhouse illustrated in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a section view of the window structure illustrated in FIGURE 1, taken substatnially on the line 4-4 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section view of the playhouse structure illustrated in FIGURE 1, taken substantially on the line 5-5 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the section view illustrated in FIGURE 5 showing a washer positioned between one of the corner posts and an upper frame member to facilitate assembly of wall panels.

FIGURE 7 is a section view taken substantially on the line 77 in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a partial perspective view of a corner of modified playhouse structure illustrating a second method of assembling the panels with the corner posts and frame members.

FIGURE 9 is an elevation view of a side of another modified playhouse constructed in accordance with the invention having an alternate roof thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown best in FIGURE 1, the educational playhouse 10 includes the four vertically extending corner posts 12, 14, 16 and 18 and the horizontal extending lower, intermediate and upper frame members 20, 22 and 24, respectively, extending from the corner post 14 toward the corner post 12, as shown in FIGURE 1. Additional lower horizontally extending frame members 26, 28 and 30, intermediate frame members 32, 34 and 36 and upper frame members 38, 40 and 42 extending between the corner posts 14 and 16, 16 and 18, 18 and 12, as shown in the drawings, are also provided to complete the frame of the playhouse 10.

The space between the vertical corner posts and the horizontally extending frame members is then closed by the wall panels generally indicated 44. Roof structure 46 is secured to the upper horizontal frame members 24 and 40. Window structure 50 and door structure 52 complete the playhouse 10.

In more detail it will be seen from FIGURES 5 and 6 that in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the corner posts 12, 14, 16 and 18 are provided openings 54 extending transversely therethrough at right angles to each other to receive the threaded ends 56 of the L-shaped hangers 58 used to secure the horizontally extending frame members to the corner posts. The openings 54 extending at right angles to each other are spaced vertically of the corner posts, as shown best in FIGURE 5, so that the hangers 58 do not interfere with each other.

Additionally the corner posts are provided with 1ongitudinally extending grooves therein for receiving the edge portions of wall panels as will be considered subsequently. The grooves 60 at one end of each side of the playhouse 10 and only half as deep as the grooves 62 at the other end of the same side.

The top and bottom surfaces of the intermediate frame members are provided with longitudinally extending grooves 64 and 65 therein. Similarly the upper surface of the lower frame member and thelower surface of the upper frame member are provided with grooves 67 and 69, respectively.

As shown best in FIGURES 5 and 6, a recess 66 is provided in the groove 69 and the groove 65 at one end thereof on each side of the playhouse 10. The recesses 65 and 69 facilitate the assembly of the wall panels 44 with the corner posts and horizontal frame members.

In addition, as shown best in FIGURE 5, the upper horizontal frame members and intermediate frame members are provided with the vertically extending openings 68 to receive the upwardly extending portion 76 of the hangers 54. The intermediate frame members are also coded to facilitate assembly of the wall panels 44 as will be seen subsequently.

The wall panels 44, as illustrated, are precut to a predetermined size and are coded as shown in FIGURE 2, so that their position in the playhouse will be readily evident to children. While the coding is indicated in FIG- URE 2 as being in accordance with letters of the alphabet, it will be readily understood that numbers or pictures, such as of easily recognized animals and the like, may be used in place of the letters.

The window structure 50, as shown best in FIGURES 3 and 4, includes an outer rectangular frame 72, an inner rectangular frame 74 and an intermediate rectangular frame 76 of less width than the rectangular frames 72 and 74, whereby a groove 78 is provided at the edges of the window structure 50 to receive wall panels 44, as will be considered subsequently. A window pane or transparent sheet 80 may be included in the window structure 50 if desired.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the door structure 52 includes a door 82 prehung from an auxiliary post 84 by means of hinges 86.

The roof 46, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, comprises three separate panels of translucent corrugated material which may be laid across the front and rear upper horizontal frame members 24 and 40. The panels may be secured by bolts or the like to the front and rear top horizontal frame members.

Modified roof structure is illustrated in FIGURE 9 wherein flat horizontal roof members are overlapped. Each horizontal roof member extends between the sides of the playhouse 10. The fiat horizontal roof members illustrated in FIGURE 9 may also be secured to the playhouse in a more permanent installation by, for example, bolts extending into the side horizontal upper frame members 38 and 42.

In assembly of the playhouse 10, the hangers 58 are first threaded through the openings 54 in the corner posts and the corner posts are positioned upright. The lower, intermediate and upper horizontal frame members are then securd to the corner posts by placing the ends 70 of the hangers in the openings 68 at the end of the horizontal -frame members. Next the wall panels 44 are positioned in the grooves by placing an upper end of a wall panel 44 in a recess 66 aligning the lower end of the panel 44 with the groove 64 or 67 immediately beneath the panel, lowering the panel into the aligned groove 64 or 67, and subsequently moving the assembled panel 44 in the grooves 64 and 69 or 67 and 65 to the opposite end of the particular wall in which it has been assembled.

To facilitate the assembly of the last panel in a wall the grooves 60 and 62 are provided in the vertical posts and a washer 88 which is C-shaped, as shown in FIG- URE 7, is provided. Thus before inserting the last panel 44 in a wall, the other panels are moved toward the end of the Wall opposite the recess 66 so that the edge of the panel 44 at the opposite end of the horizontally extending frame members extends into the groove 60. The post adjacent the end of the horizontal frame member having the recess 66 therein is separated slightly from the horizontal frame member and the washer 88 is positioned over the hanger 58, as shown best in FIGURES 6 and 7. The upper end of the last panel member is thus easily guided into the recess 66, after which it is aligned at the bottom with the lower groove in the horizontal frame member at the bottom thereof and is lowered into position between the horizontal frame members in the groove 64 or 67. The washer 88 is then removed from the hanger 58 and the post is again engaged with the end of the horizontal frame member.

Then the panels 44 are all moved back so that the edge of the last inserted panel 44 fits within the groove 62 which is only half as deep as the groove 60. Thus the edges of the first panel 44 and the last panel inserted in a wall will be retained for substantially the same distance in the grooves 60 and 62, respectively.

An alternate method of assembling the panels 44 in the grooves 64 is to provide longitudinally extending slots at right angles to each other in the corner posts, as shown in FIGURE 8, and then insert the panels 44 through the slots 90.

As previously indicated the window structure 50 may be secured in the playhouse between two panels 44 on inserting of the edge of the panels 44 in the grooves formed by the frame members 72, 74 and 76 of the window structure 50. The door structure 52 includes the post 84 which is secured to the lower horizontal frame member 20 and the upper horizontal frame member 24 by convenient means, such as bolts.

One embodiment of the present invention and modifications thereof have been disclosed in detail. It will be understood that other embodiments and modifications are contemplated by the inventors. It is the intention to include all embodiments and modifications as are defined by the appended claims within the scope of the invention.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A playhouse comprising vertically extending corner posts, horizontal frame members extending between adjacent corner posts, means operable between the corner posts and frame members for securing the comer posts and frame members together without the use of tools, including generally L-shaped members each having a threaded shank portion extending horizontally through a post to the exterior of the playhouse and a generally vertically extending portion at the other end thereof in the plane of a frame member, a longitudinally extending groove in the bottom of the frame member in the plane of the L-shaped member and a vertically extending opening in the groove in the bottom of the frame member receiving the vertically extending portion of the generally L-shaped member and means for securing the panels between the posts and frame members to enclose the area defined thereby without the use of tools.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the playhouse includes upper, intermediate and lower frame member and the means for securing the panels between the posts and frame members comprises longitudinally extending grooves in the lower edge of the upper frame members, both edges of the intermediate frame members and the upper edge of the lower frame members, a recess within the groove in the lower edge of the upper frame members and the groove in the lower edge of the intermediate frame members of sufficient length longitudinally of the frame members to receive the extent of a panel in the longitudinal direction of the frame members whereby the panels may be inserted into the grooves between the upper frame members and intermediate frame members and between the intermediate frame members and lower frame members by inserting the upper end of the panels in the recesses moving the panels to extend vertically between the grooves in the frame members and lowering the panels into the grooves in the intermediate and lower frame members.

3. Structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the means for securing the panels between the corner posts and frame members further includes a groove in at least one corner post at each side of the playhouse in alignment with panels positioned in the grooves of the frame members at the side of the playhouse for receiving one edge of a panel to facilitate insertion of the last panel on the side of the playhouse in the grooves.

4. Structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein an additional groove is provided in the other corner post on at least one side of the playhouse aligned with the panels extending between the frame members in the grooves which is half as deep as the groove in the one corner post on the one side of the playhouse to facilitate adjustment of the panels in the grooves after insertion of all of the panels on the one side of the playhouse.

5. Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least the intermediate frame members and the panels are coded to indicate proper assembled relation of the elements of the playhouse.

6. Structure as set forth in claim 1, and further including a roof secured to the upper frame members.

7. Structure as set forth in claim 1, and further including a window frame structure having grooves in the edges thereof secured between the frame members by the panels, the edges of which fit into the grooves in the window frame structure.

8. A playhouse comprising vertically extending corner posts, horizontal upper, intermediate and lower frame members extending between adjacent corner posts, means operable between the corner posts and frame members for securing the corner posts and frame members together without the use of tools, a plurality of wall panels, and means for securing the panels between the posts and frame members to enclose the area defined thereby without the use of tools, including longitudinally extending grooves in the lower edge of the upper frame members, both edges of the intermediate frame members and the upper edge of the lower frame members, longitudinally extending slots in the post at right angles to each other and extending between the lower edge of the upper frame members and the upper edge of the intermediate frame members and between the lower edge of the intermediate frame members and the upper edge of the lower frame members in alignment with the grooves in the frame members whereby building panels may be inserted through the slots in the posts into the grooves in the frame members.

9. Structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein the means for securing the posts and frame members together comprises generally L-shaped members having a threaded shank portion extending horizontally through the posts to the exterior of the playhouse and a vertically extending portion at the other end thereof in the plane of a frame member and a vertically extending opening in the bottom of the frame member receiving the vertically extending portion of the generally L-shaped member.

10. A playhouse comprising vertically extending corner posts, horizontal upper, intermediate and lower frame members extending between adjacent corner posts, means operable between the corner posts and frame members for securing the corner posts and frame members together without the use of tools, a plurality of wall panels, and means for securing the panels between the posts and frame members to enclose the area defined thereby without the use of tools, including longitudially extending grooves in the lower edge of the upper frame members, both edges of the intermediate frame members and the upper edge of the lower frame members, a recess within the groove in the lower edge of the upper frame members and the groove in the lower edge of the intermediate frame members at one end thereof of sufiicient length longitudinally of the frame members to receive the extent of a panel in the longitudinal direction of the frame members whereby the panels may be inserted into the grooves between the upper frame members and intermediate frame members and between the intermediate frame members and lower frame members by inserting the upper end of the panels in the recess, moving the panels to extend vertically between the grooves in the frame members and lowering the panels into the grooves in the intermediate and lower frame members and a groove in at least one corner post at each side of the playhouse in alignment with panels positioned in grooves of the frame members at the side of the playhouse for receiving one edge of a panel to facilities insertion of the last panel on the side of the playhouse in the grooves and a C-shaped washer adapted to be positioned between the frame members and corner posts at the upper frame members and intermediate frame members adjacent the recess for facilitating the insertion of the last panel in the recess.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 797,640 8/ 1905 Thompson 46-19 974,233 11/1910 Brewer 52-261 X 1,564,789 12/1925 Himmel 52-282 X 2,623,249 12/ 1952 Miller 52-476 3,017,970 1/ 1962 Nickols 52-495 X 3,137,967 6/1964 Flieth 52105 X 3,369,335 2/1968 Smith 52-270 1,504,527 8/ 1924 Stegall 52--92 1,981,661 11/1934 Pfeifer 5291 FOREIGN PATENTS 179,405 8/ 1954 Austria. 633,487 9/1959 Italy.

69,987 6/ 1946 Norway. 190,934 5/ 1937 Switzerland. 270,000 8/ 1950 Switzerland.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner I. L. RIDGILL, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

